Grace was born Nellie Grace Neill on Dec. 5, 1921 near Colt, Ark. to Hubert and Norah Neill. Her family ran the local store and post office until 1942, when they moved to West Memphis. In 1943, they joined her aunt and uncle Amos and Ethel Barron in Mount Shasta to work in the lumber mills.

After a subsequent move to Weed, Grace met Charles Bell while working at the factory. They were married on July 16, 1951 and settled on Main Street.

In 1969, the family moved to Edgewood. Grace started working part time at the Edgewood Post Office and was offered a job full time with the Weed Post Office in 1971. She worked there until her retirement. She enjoyed interaction with her co-workers and the residents of Weed.

Grace enjoyed her large family. She was known as one of the best cooks in the family. After the kids were grown, she and “Chuck” took many classes at College of the Siskiyous. They enjoyed rockhounding, and spent many hours digging for specimens, attending meetings and making jewelry. Later they enjoyed trips to Reno, and various Senior Center activities, along with gardening.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband Charles Bell Jr. and her brother Howard Neill.

She leaves six children: Connie Lambert of Oregon; Marie (Alan) Mills of Texas; Charlie (Suzie) Bell and Sue (Ken) Shaffer, both of Weed; Dan Bell of Chico; and John (Maureen) Bell of Sacramento. She cherished her grandchildren: Norah and Ben Lambert (Connie), Suzanne Mills (Marie), Sara and Haley Bell (Dan), and Meagan and Jack Bell (John).

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Weed. Contributions can be made to the Mercy Hospice in Mount Shasta.